Police clash with abortion protesters, as opposing rallies take to the streets of Melbourne – ABC News

Protesters have clashed with police in Melbourne's cityas people ralliedin the streets to promote opposing messages about abortion rights.

Pro-choice protestersmarched a course through the CBD that was planned to intersect with ananti-abortion march taking place at the same time.

Police worked to stop the marches from crossing paths, with officers liningup across city streets, patrolling on horseback and blocking the paths of the demonstrators.

Bourke Street and Spring Street were closed near parliament due to the protests, delaying traffic and tram services through the CBD.

As one driver sat in a queue ofcars, she said she thought the protests were a waste of taxpayer money and police resources.

"I get that people want to protest and that, but on a Saturday when everyone is out and about trying to do their thing it's ridiculous, take it somewhere else, not in the middle of the CBD," she said.

Victorian Convenor of the Animal Justice Party Bronwyn Currie said the pro-choice protestwas fighting "for the lives of women".

"If abortion is not legal, if it's not affordable, if it's not accessible, it's not going to stop abortions," she said.

"Abortions will continue to happen but women's lives will be in peril and we're not going to let that happen. We are here to fight and demand that we have our human rights protected."

Secretary of the Reason Party, Emma Sinclairsaid anti-abortion sentiment has grown after the overturning ofthe Roe v Wade decision by the United States Supreme Court.

In response to that decision, more than 3,000 people demonstratedin early July Melbourne's CBD in a show of solidarity with abortion rights protesters in the US.

"It is a battle we've been dealing with for centuries, we've taken steps forward to decriminalise and now we're at risk again," Ms Sinclair said.

In August, MP Fiona Patten. leader of the Reason Partyintroduced a bill into state parliament that would haveremoved the right of hospitals that receive taxpayer funding to refuse to offer reproductive health servicesdue to "corporate conscientious objection".

Ms Sinclair said that bill has since beenrejected, but the Reason Partyis still pushing for the changes to be implemented.

With many attendees holding blue and pink balloons, the anti-abortion march gathered close to the pro-choice protestat Treasury Gardens to call for the repeal of Victoria's abortion laws.

Some peoplewore clothing and held a flag with the insignia of thefar-right Proud Boys extremist group.

Others at the marchsaid they were there as a show of support for religious freedoms, following the resignation this week of Essendon CEO Andrew Thorburn,after it emerged the church he leads has publishedarticles that are critical of homosexuality and abortion.

In an attempt to disrupt the anti-abortion event, some pro-choiceprotestersjoined the crowd at Treasury Gardens and held balloons indicating they were part of the anti-abortion march.

They were quickly expelled by police when they started chanting "pro-life is a lie, you don't care if people die".

Former Liberal MP and organiser of the anti-abortion march Bernie Finn said the Liberal Party should change its abortionpolicies.

"If the Liberal Party really cares about human rights and really cares about civil liberties, they will protect everyone, and that includes babies before birth," he said.

Mr Finn, who has been an MP for nearly four decades, was expelled from the Liberal Party in May after posting inflammatory social media contentabout abortion rights.

Mr Finn said Moira Deeming, who was chosen to replace himand contest the upper house Western Metropolitan Region seat atthe November state election, also hasanti-abortion views.

When asked about Ms Deemnig's opinions at a press conference this morning, leader of the Victorian Liberals Matthew Guy said no one should be "demonised for any point of view they express".

"Anyone in this country is entitled to have a view on issues like that, and so long as their debates are sensible and respectful, everyone is entitled to have a view," he said.

"The Liberal Party, we don't penalise people for having different points of view and on that topic [abortion]we've got very broad differences of a point of view."

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Police clash with abortion protesters, as opposing rallies take to the streets of Melbourne - ABC News